5 of the Worst Things You Can Say in Your Job Interview [Part 1]

Most people stress out about interviews and its common for nerves to get the best of us.

If you consider that the whole point of an interview is to show you are the best person for the position, you need to concentrate on that objective, and you can get over your stress.

Stress-related mistakes aside, it also helps to know what things you should absolutely not say in a job interview. Consider the following interview phrases that can quickly sink your chances of getting the job.

“I’m not sure.”

While it’s possible you will be asked a question you don’t know the answer to, you should avoid saying things like “I’m not sure” or “I don’t know.”

When asked a question you don’t have an immediate answer for, you can buy yourself some time by saying, “That’s a really good question!” If you still can’t come up with a response, try to provide an answer that includes something about getting more information through research. This kind of answer may not be perfect, but it does show how you think about solving problems and it adds something to the discussion.

“What is the pay for this position?”

You probably don’t want to waste time discussing a job that doesn’t pay what you need to make ends meet. However, you should avoid discussions about salary and benefits until after an offer has been extended. Too much focus on “what’s in it for you” can cause your interviewer to think you’re too self-centered and not a team player.

Ideally, you should have a good idea what the position pays before applying. There are many online resources that can help you find out what a position pays, including glassdoor.com and payscale.com.

“My current boss isn’t very good.”

A job interview is not the place to air your grievances.

Because the interview is about you and what abilities, experience and character you can bring to the table, it’s not a good idea to bring in negativity about current or past supervisors. If you do want to mention a difficult job situation, keep the focus on how you benefited from the situation and what you want to do moving forward.

“I’m not sure I could do that.”

It’s the interviewer’s duty to see if you have the abilities needed to succeed in the open position and hearing you don’t have a certain skill is a major red flag.

If you are changing careers or are a recent graduate, you may not have every single skill listed in a job description, and that’s okay. Talk about what you can do for the business, not doubts about your skill set.

“I don’t have any questions.”

You should always have questions for your interviewer at the end of an interview. Asking questions can indicate your interest in the job and the business. Ahead of the interview, write out two to four questions you’d like to ask. These questions can and should be open-ended, not yes or no, because these kinds of questions provide the most useful information.

At Career Concepts, we regularly provide interview coaching for job seekers. If you are looking to take the next step on your career path, please contact us today.